Pipe coupling



Jan. 26, 1965 B. R. HEPBURN PIPE COUPLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 28,1962 FIG. I

INVENTOR BERNARD R. HEPBU RN Jan. 26, 1965 B. R. HEPBURN 3,166,812

PIPE COUPLING Filed May 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR BERNARD R. HEPBURN 3,166,312 FEE QQUPLING Bernard RichartHepburn, Galrvilie, )ntario, Canada, assigner to National Sewer PipeLimited, @akville, Qntario, Canada, a enrporatinn V Fhetl May 28, 1962,Ser. No. 193,260

I tllaim. (El. 24279) This invention'relates to pipe couplings andparticularly to clamping means for plain end pipe couplings.

The object of the invention is to devise a simple. clamping means whichcan be quickly and easily tightened and yet will not be tightenedsufficiently to break or weaken the coupling.

The object has been achieved by interposing between the clamping headand the tightening means, means bendable under strain to indicate whensufiicient tightening force has been applied to the band.

The construction of the coupling is substantially the same as shown inUnited States Patents 2,846,243 and 2,893,760, that is to say, it is acontinuous belt of rubber or the like having a hollow annular raisedridge adjacent each side thereof forming channels through each of whichextends a metal band. This is placed over ends of adja cent pipes.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in th accompanyingdrawings in which:

1 is a perspectiveview of the coupling; FIGURE 2 is a side elevationshowing the connecting means before tightening;

' and the belt 2 of rubber or the like is provided with hollow ridges 3and 4 through which pass silicon bronze United States Patent ice thelugs 71), 7b and 7d, 7d. Nut 9 may be tightened on the end of the bolt8, pulling :the ends of the band 6 together and thus compressing thebelt 2 into close contact with the pipe 1.

Means to indicate when snfiicient tightening force applied 'in FIGURE 4.The arrangement is such that when the clamping device is tightened thebolt head 8a rides over the top of lugs 7d, 7d, drawing the end of theband 6 over the lugs so that the band is drawn into the recess 7a. Theclampingdevice is arranged so that the required tightening I,

, force to seal the pipe will be obtained before the bolt bands 5 and 6,fitting losely therein, to provide slack in V the bands prior totightening the coupling. Since the construction of each of the ridges 3and 4 is the same, I will describe the connecting and clamping meansassociated with the ridge 4 and the band 6.

Means for-connecting and tightening bands A bracket 7 formed of siliconbronze is elongated in form and provided with a longitudinal recess 7ain its upper surface (see FIGURE6), spaced apart upwardly URES 4 and 5upwardly through a slot'7e in the underside of the longitudinal recess7a, along the bottom of the longitudinal recess 7a to the other end ofthe bracket, around the end of the bracket in the recess 70 and backbeneath the bracket to a point about /2 inch within the ridge 4. By thisarrangement the band, 6 is in engagement with the belt 2 throughoutsubstantially the whole length of the bracket '7. The base of thebracket 7 is curved to substantially the same curvature as the belt 2.

The other end of the band 6 is secured to a bolt 8 as illustrated inFIGURE 2 and FIGURE 3. The flattened 7 end or head 8a of the bolt hastwo paralel transverse slots in it and the band 6- extends under thehead8a up through the inner slot, over the head, down through the outer slotand around the outer end of the bolt head and backover the head, asshown in FIGURE 2. I

' The bolt 8 is adapted to lie in the recess 7a of the v bracket 7 ontop of the band 6 andto extend between head 8a makes contact with theupwardly extending lugs 7b, 711. I I

The bolt end 8a will commence to' bend up as stress increases on theband and when maximum desired pressure is applied it will be approachinga position of about 45 indicating that further tightening of thecoupling is unnecessary and might result in breakage of the bolt end.

When the coupling is tightened to the desired extent the band 6 rides upover the other end of the band in by the base of the guiding lugs 7d, 7dpressing againstthe resilient belt 2.

It will be noted that the band 6 with the underside'of the lugs 7d, 7dprovide a continuous pressure on the belt 2 between the ends of theridges, thus creating a continuous seal between the belt and the pipe.

It will be understood that, as stated above, although the constructionand operation of the tighteningband 6 has been described, theconstruction and operation of band 5 is similar.

What I claim as my invention is:

Clamping means for a pipe coupling comprising a band adapted to encirclethe coupling, a connector including a bracket connected to one end ofthe band and a threaded bolt connected to the other end of the band,said bracket having a recess therein adapted to receive the bolt, and anut for the bolt adapted to engage the bracket and tighten the band whenthe nut is rotated on the bolt, said bolt having a head adapted to bendunder a predetermined pressure and provided with inner and outerparallel transverse slots, the band extending under the head, up throughthe inner slots, over the head, down through the outer slot, around theouter end of the head and back over the head, so that the head willdeform in a predetermined manner without breaking to indicate whensufiicient tightening force has been applied to the band.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 212,591 v 5/56Australia.

M, BENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner. ABRAHAM G. STONE, Examiner.

Patented Jan. 26, 1%55 Hill 24-280

